What Causes Sharp Pain Under The Right Shoulder Blade?

Hello, Thank you for your question. Shoulder blade pain can be a sign of something serious like a heart attack or lung problem, or something as simple as sleeping wrong or poor posture at work. There are many other potential causes, ranging from degenerative disc disease, to arthritis, to gallbladder disease, or even shingles. You have to know that what is shoulder blade. Shoulder blade medically known as the scapulae are the triangular shaped bone of your upper back that stick out and become more visible when you extend your elbows towards your back. Pain in the region of the shoulder blade can be due to multiple causes. It may be due to inflammation in the scapula itself or referred pain from other areas of the body. Pain in the shoulder blade can be related to inflammation or trauma to the shoulder area itself, or may instead be due to referred pain from other regions in the chest and abdomen. Because of this, pain experienced in this area can be something as simple as a mild muscle strain, or as serious as a heart or lung condition or cancer. Some conditions are more likely to cause referred pain to the shoulder blades on one side. For example, gallbladder disease may cause referred pain in right shoulder whereas heart condition are more likely to cause referred pain to the left shoulder blade. Your doctor will begin by taking a careful history and doing a physical exam. Most of the diagnosis of shoulder blade pain can be from history and physical exam. Physical exam alone can not make the exact diagnosis. The other tests and studies may include such as radiological studies, heart tests, abdominal exam, blood work. The treatment of shoulder blade pain will depend on the underlying cause of the pain. If it is from muscle strain some management may be helpful. There are should be rest, put ice pack for shoulder, compression, elevate your shoulder by finding the position that you are more comfortable may help with shoulder blade pain, heat and physical therapy maybe helpful also. If there are no reasons why you can t take anti-inflammation medication, treatment with Advil(ibuprofen) or Aleve(naproxen) may also reduce discomfort. Stretching or massage also have benefit for some people. For other causes of pain, treatment should address the underlying cause. If you have shoulder blade pain that persists beyond a few days it is important to see your doctor. If your pain is severe or is accompanied by symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath go to hospital as soon as you think that it is seriously wrong. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Best regards, Dr Heang Chan Raksmey, General and Family Physician